About

Our graduate program is one of the best in Canada. It features 20 full-time faculty, a prestigious research chair, approximately 40 graduate students, and competitive funding packages.

Our alumni have a long track record of success in both the public and private sectors. Our alumni regularly receive offers for tenure-track positions and desirable jobs in archives, government, administration, law, and consulting.

The Department of History has thesis-based MA and PhD programs. We specialize in eight signature research areas, but can accommodate a wide range of topics.

Signature Research Areas

  • Indigenous History
  • Environmental History
  • Prairies and the North American West
  • Health, Medicine, Science, and Occultism
  • History and Politics of Memory
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Colonial and Post-Colonial Histories
  • Twentieth-Century Politics, Culture, and Foreign Relations

Graduate students in our department have access to a wide array of opportunities. We boast the Historical Geographical Information Systems (HGIS) Lab, which specializes in digital history and spatial history. We also have the Collab, which specializes in community-engaged research.

The specifics of our program, including our MA and PhD Handbooks, can be found on our resources page.

For more information about our graduate programs, please contact Nadine Penner, Graduate Program Assistant, or Dr. Benjamin Hoy, Director of Graduate Studies in History. 

For any application inquiries, please contact asg.gradapplications@usask.ca 

Our Programs

The Department of History offers graduate courses leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

MA Degree in History

All MA students are required to complete 3 courses and prepare a thesis.  The courses include: HIST 881.3 (T1): Historiography; HIST 883.3 (T1): Historical Research Methods; HIST 884.3 (T2): Historical Writing.

PhD Degree in History

All PhD students are required to complete 2 comprehensive field courses and prepare a dissertation.  The field courses focus around the student's research area and serve as the basis for their future ability to teach on related themeatic and geographic areas. 

Additional information on the MA and PhD Program requirements can be found in the MA and PhD Handbooks on our resources page

Funding

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Research Funding

Departmental and College Funding

The Department of History offers competitive funding packages for Master’s and Doctoral students. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement to support graduate students who show excellent promise as researchers and teachers. Eligible MA students usually receive $21,000 per year for two years. Eligible PhD students receive guaranteed funding of $31,000 per year for 4 years. These awards often contain a combination of stipends and work requirements (eg. Teaching assistantships). 

Renewal of these scholarships is based on satisfactory academic performance, service to the Department, and maintenance of full-time status.

Major Awards

SSHRC Graduate Scholarships

Students applying to MA and PhD programs in History are encouraged to also apply for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council scholarships. Please be advised that the SSHRC deadlines are in the fall: October for PhD and December for MA.  In addition, the Department of History and the College of Graduate and PostDoctoral Studies (CGPS) both provide generous top-up funding for those who hold SSHRC scholarships.  If applying for the MA SSHRC scholarship, students must submit applications on-line directly to SSHRC by December 1. If applying for the PhD SSHRC scholarship, students must submit their applications and supporting documents to the History Department (check with the Department for specific internal deadline, which are earlier than national deadlines). Students enrolled outside the U of S should apply to SSHRC through their home institutions. Students not currently enrolled at a university should apply directly to SSHRC in Ottawa.

For more information for applying for SSHRC can be found at  www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca or contact Dr. Benjamin Hoy, Director of Graduate Studies in History.

Indigenous Graduate Leadership Awards

Indigenous Graduate Leadership Awards are open to Canadian Indigenous students at the MA or PhD who demonstrate leadership through active community engagement and/or involvement. MA $20,000 per year for 2 years. PhD $25,000 per year for two years.  For additional details see: Indigenous Graduate Leadership Award

Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowships

These fellowships are awarded by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies to eligible Ph.D. students within the first 5 years of their programs. Students must have completed their course work and comprehensive examinations. Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellows receive $15,000 for one year, during which they receive training in university teaching and deliver an undergraduate course under the guidance of a faculty mentor.  For additonal details see:  Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship.

Departmental Teaching Assistantships

Under the supervision of a faculty instructor, teaching assistants are responsible for conducting undergraduate seminars and grading essays over the regular academic session from September to April at an hourly wage. 

Folklore Graduate Fellowship in History

The recipient of this fellowship receives a stipend of approximately $15,000 per year for 2 years and works 10 hours per week as the editor of  Folklore Magazine

 

Teaching Awards

Graduate Instructor Award

Value: $250 each
Number: One
Description: The Graduate Instructor Award serves as a merit based award for Masters and PhD students who taught a 3-cu class. The instructional committee will meet annually in May to determine a winner based on teaching done during the preceding academic year. The award will be determined based on SEEQ evaluations, teaching materials provided by nominated instructors, and letters of support from faculty and students.
Eligibility: Open to Masters and PhD students who have taught a 3-cu class in the past year.
Apply: No application necessary

Outstanding Seminar Leader Award

Value: $250 each
Number: One
Description: The Outstanding Seminar Leader Award serves as a merit based award for Masters and PhD students who led a seminar section during the previous year. The instructional committee will meet annually in May to determine a winner based on teaching done during the preceding academic year.
Eligibility: Open to Masters and PhD students who led a seminar discussion during the previous year.
Apply: No application necessary

Memorial Awards

Student Research Travel Funds

Graduate students may apply to the department for research travel funds to assist with completing their research.

Student Research Travel Funds are a combination of the Department’s support and four memorial awards; the Terrance L. Cameron Awards, the Hallett Research Awards, the Messer Canadian History Fund, and the Arthur Silver Morton Memorial Travel Scholarships. 

Eligible applicants include History MA and PhD students, as well as 4th year undergraduates from the following departments:  Department of History, Department of Political Studies, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Department of Indigenous Studies. 

Deadline to apply: February 1. Please download and complete the  History Research/Travel Awards Application. Submit completed applications, including a one-page itemized budget, to  asg.studentawards@usask.ca.

Elizabeth and Cecil Kent Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Kent Postdoc competition is open to early career scholars working in the field of British History and/or the history of the British world.  The fellowship is tenable for two years and includes an annual research allowance. The competition normally takes place every two years, with applications submitted to the Department in February; the fellowship begins the following September. Applicants must have completed all the requirements for a PhD in history by August 31 of the award year, and must be willing to reside in Saskatoon during the fellowship.

Other Sources of Funding

Eligible graduate students may also find additional sources of funding and professional training once admitted into the program, such departmental teaching assistantships, research assistantships, teacher-scholar doctoral fellowships, and other departmental awards

Eligible graduate students are also considered for scholarships provided by the Canada Research Chair in the History of Health and Social Justice.

Other Awards

Information on University and Tri-Agency Scholarships and awards can be found: https://grad.usask.ca/funding/scholarships.php#University 

Other awards can be found at the Graduate Awards databasehttps://usask.academicworks.ca/opportunities